Former PM Imran Khan suffers bullet injury in Pakistan shooting

Islamabad, Nov 3 (EFE).- Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan suffered a gunshot wound on Thursday after an unidentified attacker opened fire on a crowded rally led by the politician, said officials.

The attack occurred as Khan’s long march to the capital passed through Wazirabad in the eastern province of Punjab.

The media reported that Khan and at least five Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders suffered injuries in the firing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the firing and sought a report from federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

“I condemn the incident of firing on PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the strongest words. I have directed Interior Minister for an immediate report on the incident. I pray for the recovery and health of PTI chairman & other injured people,” the prime minister tweeted.

The president said the “attack is shocking, alarming, disgraceful, deceitful and cowardly.”

The injured, including Khan, have been taken to hospitals.

“Khan has suffered a bullet injury. It is not critical. He is stable. He is injured in the leg,” PTI leader Assad Umar told ARY news in a live broadcast.

“Imran Khan is changing Pakistan and they have stooped this low,” he said, alleging it was an attempt to assassinate the politician ousted from power in April.

He said Khan was being taken to Lahore for treatment.

Umar said he was near the spot at the time of the firing incident but was inside a truck bound for Islamabad as part of a roadshow that began on Friday from Lahore.

Media footage from the spot showed rescuers rushing Khan into another vehicle with apparently a bandage on his leg.

More footage from the incident showed a man interrupting the suspected shooter and deflecting his handgun as the attacker pointed the weapon toward Khan.

The attacker still managed to fire multiple shots before the crowd overpowered him and reportedly handed him over to the police.

Police in Wazirabad said they were gathering information about the incident.

Video clips showed PTI supporters chanting slogans against the military and the government.

Khan claimed an earlier threat to his life and had recorded a video about that.

He said he would make the video public if something happened to him.

The former prime minister is leading a long march from Lahore to the capital Islamabad to pressure the government for early elections in the country.

The firing incident took place just as Khan was about to address his party workers in Gujranwala. EFE